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Higley's Ty Robinson signs with Nebraska Cornhuskers

The Chandler Wolves had seven players sign their football letters on the first day of the Early Signing Period, Dec. 19, 2018. #azhsfb Nate Fain/azcentral sports

Photos: High school football signing day Dec. 2018

The Chandler Wolves had seven players sign their football letters on the first day of the Early Signing Period, Dec. 19, 2018. #azhsfb
Nate Fain/azcentral sports

Basha offensive lineman Roman DeWys signs his letter of intent to play football at Arizona State on Dec. 19, 2018. Brittany Bowyer/Special for azcentral sports

Photos: High school football signing day Dec. 2018

Basha offensive lineman Roman DeWys signs his letter of intent to play football at Arizona State on Dec. 19, 2018.
Brittany Bowyer/Special for azcentral sports

Basha offensive lineman Roman DeWys signs his letter of intent to play football at Arizona State on Dec. 19, 2018. Brittany Bowyer/Special for azcentral sports

Photos: High school football signing day Dec. 2018

Basha offensive lineman Roman DeWys signs his letter of intent to play football at Arizona State on Dec. 19, 2018.
Brittany Bowyer/Special for azcentral sports

Basha offensive lineman Roman DeWys signs his letter of intent to play football at Arizona State on Dec. 19, 2018. Brittany Bowyer/Special for azcentral sports

Photos: High school football signing day Dec. 2018

Basha offensive lineman Roman DeWys signs his letter of intent to play football at Arizona State on Dec. 19, 2018.
Brittany Bowyer/Special for azcentral sports

Higley defensive lineman Ty Robinson celebrates with his mom, Tresha, after he announces he will be attending University of Nebraska during signing day at Higley High in Gilbert on December 19, 2018. #hsfb Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Photos: High school football signing day Dec. 2018

Higley defensive lineman Ty Robinson celebrates with his mom, Tresha, after he announces he will be attending University of Nebraska during signing day at Higley High in Gilbert on December 19, 2018. #hsfb
Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Higley defensive lineman Ty Robinson announces he will be attending University of Nebraska during signing day at Higley High in Gilbert on December 19, 2018. #hsfb Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Photos: High school football signing day Dec. 2018

Higley defensive lineman Ty Robinson announces he will be attending University of Nebraska during signing day at Higley High in Gilbert on December 19, 2018. #hsfb
Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Higley defensive lineman Ty Robinson celebrates with his mom, Tresha, after he announces he will be attending University of Nebraska during signing day at Higley High in Gilbert on December 19, 2018. #hsfb Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Photos: High school football signing day Dec. 2018

Higley defensive lineman Ty Robinson celebrates with his mom, Tresha, after he announces he will be attending University of Nebraska during signing day at Higley High in Gilbert on December 19, 2018. #hsfb
Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Photos: High school football signing day Dec. 2018

Saguaro linebacker Clay Randall, who signed with Air Force, poses for a photo with his high school coach Jason Mohns. Richard Obert/azcentral sports

Photos: High school football signing day Dec. 2018

Saguaro linebacker Clay Randall, who signed with Air Force, poses for a photo with his high school coach Jason Mohns.
Richard Obert/azcentral sports

ASU-bound Connor Soelle had a large family presence at Scottsdale Saguaro for his signing-day event on Dec. 19, 2018. Richard Obert/azcentral sports

Photos: High school football signing day Dec. 2018

ASU-bound Connor Soelle had a large family presence at Scottsdale Saguaro for his signing-day event on Dec. 19, 2018.
Richard Obert/azcentral sports

Spencer Rattler was honored with fellow Pinnacle students at a ceremony at the school on Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018. Susan Rattler, mother of Spencer, takes a photo of football coach Dana Zupke with Spencer. Tom Tingle/The Republic

Photos: High school football signing day Dec. 2018

Spencer Rattler was honored with fellow Pinnacle students at a ceremony at the school on Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018. Susan Rattler, mother of Spencer, takes a photo of football coach Dana Zupke with Spencer.
Tom Tingle/The Republic

Pinnacle High School hosted a mock signing day event for 10 of its athletes on Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018. Tom Tingle/The Republic

Photos: High school football signing day Dec. 2018

Pinnacle High School hosted a mock signing day event for 10 of its athletes on Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018.
Tom Tingle/The Republic

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As Ty Robinson signed his letter of intent with Nebraska on Wednesday, Gilbert Higley football coach Eddy Zubey said, "Get ready Lincoln, you're getting a beast."

The transformation of Robinson, moving from tight end to defensive end to defensive tackle, packing on muscle, during his Higley football career, was amazing. He grew into an NFL body at 6-foot-6, 285 pounds with more room to grow, and into a player Zubey called, "the best defensive lineman in the nation," during the Early Signing Day ceremony at the school's performing arts center.

Quarterback Spencer Brasch also signed his national letter of intent, to California, which has become a pipeline of Arizona talent with six Valley high school football players signing with the Pac-12 school on Wednesdsay.

Ty Robinson and his family entertained 11 Nebraska coaches in his home last week
Richard Pollitt, Salisbury Daily Times

"It was like having a party," Robinson said. "You could see all the Chevy Tahoes in the front coming. We had to cook for an army, that's how big they are. It was really special."

Robinson has family tied to Nebraska.

The framed black-and-white action photo on Robinson's table during the ceremony was of his dad, Jason, when he played basketball at Division II Chadron State in Nebraska in the early 1990s. Jason lost his battle with cancer when Ty was 12.

Since then, his mother Tresha, has become Ty's rock, motivator, inspiration. She is from Nebraska.

"The whole state is going to blow up about this decision," Tresha said of his son signing with Nebraska. "He's had so many fans from the get-go. Even before he got the offer, they were going, 'When is the offer coming in?' "

"Coach Frost had kind of a mess he had to clean up before he could start recruiting this class," Tresha said. "We knew it was coming. Once it started, they never backed down. They kept coming. They're like family to us."

Good thing Tresha had enough land to accommodate 11 Nebraska coaches.

"We had a bonfire and set up a bunch of games," Tresha said. "We played basketball and ping pong and cornball. It was great. Not a lot of football talk. Just cultivating relationships."

She realizes that if football doesn't work out at Nebraska, Ty will have a lot of people supporting him.

"If for some unfortunate reason he couldn't play, he's got a life where he's at," Tresha said. "He's told me he sees himself living there one day."

Zubey said six hours at Robinson's house by one major college football program's coaching staff was unheard of. They like him all over the defensive line.

"He'll be a three-down lineman for them," Zubey said.

Robinson said he strongly considered Oregon, which ended up being his second school.

"Oregon was really close," said Robinson, who told the coaches Tuesday he wouldn't be coming to Eugene. "It was really hard for me to do that. They're really good guys over there.

"But at the end of the day, I can only go to one school, and Nebraska was the place for me."

Brasch breakthrough

Brasch, who grew to just over 6 feet 4 inches while playing quarterback the last two seasons at Higley, is hoping to be part of a Cal depth chart next season that won't make him reshirt.

After receiving 14 offers, Brasch picked up his first Pac-12 offer from Cal.

"I always liked them, even as a little kid," Brasch said. "When I first got the offer, I really wanted to check out the school."

Zubey belives Brasch has the highest ceiling among the Arizona high school quarterbacks this year with his size, arm strength and ability to extend plays.

"I don't know if there is a better quarterback in Arizona who can do that (extend plays)," Zubey said. "I just think he has a huge upside."

» The I AM SPORT award is a contest created to honor high school student athletes who are committed to giving back to the youth in their communities. The voting period is now open and runs through March 5.